Tools for Schools (TFS) is a foundation run by the Central MN Builders Association. 

 

The vision of the Tools for Schools foundation is to offer increased support to schools by providing tools, supplies, grants, education, and scholarship to further enhance learning opportunities for students in order to attract more interest in the construction trades as a career choice.

 

Seventeen area high school industrial technology programs participated in the program including Albany, St. Cloud Apollo, ALC McKinley, Becker, St. Cloud Cathedral, Eden Valley-Watkins, Foley, Kimball, Little Falls, Melrose, Princeton, Rocori, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Swanville, St. Cloud Tech and Upsala.

 

Former CMBA President, Craig Schoenberg, owner of Schoenberg Construction of St. Cloud had the idea to create a TFS president's fund so CMBA members, local businesses, and individuals could make donations in support of Tools for Schools. In 2017, the Tools for Schools president's fund was officially formed.

 

Presently, there are three key components to the foundation.  They are:

 

1). School scholarships (offered annually and 100% CMBA funded);

 

2). President's fund (offered throughout the year and funded by CMBA business, and individual donations.);

 

3). Initiative (education).

 

The timeline and highlights of Tools for Schools (TFS) includes: 

 

In 2004, Tools for Schools annual scholarships were created by the CMBA in order to offer financial support to local schools in support of the construction trades;

 

• From 2004 – 2017, Tools for Schools donated over $99,000 in scholarships to Central MN schools;

 

• In 2017, the Tools for Schools president’s fund  and initiative was created;

 

• The CMBA board of directors offered to match any donation to the TFS president’s fund up to $20,000. The total funds matched in 2017 by the CMBA board equaled $16,450; 

 

• The CMBA board will, once again, match up to $20,000 in donations to the TFS President’s fund in 2018; 

 

• To date for 2018, the fund has received and matched over $9,700;

 

• The fund plans to max out the matching funds and needs to raise an additional $10,300 to do so; 

 

• A total of $50,389 has been raised (in 2017 and 2018) and $37,823 has been given away to date to regional schools by the CMBA's Tools for schools president’s fund.

Other points of interest about Tools for School:

 

• In 2018, the CMBA will award a total of $18,000 to schools in central MN who apply for the school scholarship. (Application deadline is September and scholarships are awarded in November.) To determine your school's eligibly and for an application, contact the CMBA office at 320-251-4382;

 

• The 2018 TFS scholarships and president's fund giving goal is $58,000 in total;

 

• The TFS foundation was created and is maintained through the support, help and guidance of the initiative foundation.

 

Future goals of the foundation are:

• Initiative development (speaking, education, and school visits by professionals);

 

• Legacy building;

 

• Individual scholarships for students.

 

Anyone who would like to support local schools can make a tax deductible donation online at:  ifound.org/Give-CMBA.